Suction cleaner attachment



*June 3.0, 19.31. E. F. MARTINET 1,812,493

SUCTION CLEANER ATTACHMENT Filed Feb. 8, 1928 Patented June `r30, 1.931

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EUGENE F. MARTIN ET, F CLEVELAN), OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE P. A. GEIER COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND', OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO SUCTION CLEANER ATTACHMENT Application filed February 8, 1928. Serial No. 252,787.

My invention relates to improvements in suction cleaner attachments, and morepar-i ticularly to brush attachments for suction l nozzles, having as an object the provision of means for properly directing the air currents most effectively with respect to the members of the brush. l v

Brush attachments commonly applied to suction cleaner nozzles are liable to inefficient operative conditions with respect to the air currents, through the withdrawal of the air at other points than over the sweeping area immediately involved. Thus the incoming air will tend to flow with larger volume be'- tween the upper portions of the separated bristle tufts than directly across the surface or fabric being cleaned, while very vappreciable losses of effective air currents commonly are present at the ends of the co-acting brush attachments and their mounting nozzles.

Accordingly, I have sought to improve the structure and operation of such brush attachments by associating with the nozzle and brush member a self-adapting sleeve which will primarily direct the effective air currents along or closely adjacent to the surface or fabric undergoing the cleaning operation. v j

The features yof construction and their mode of operation may best be explained in connection with the accompanying drawings,

illustrating two l.embodiments of tion, wherein:

Figure lis a small View in side elevation of a portable suction cleaner equipped with my improvement,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view, partially broken away, showing the suction nozzle thereof in my inveno front elevatlon,

Figs. 3 and 4: are views in vertical section illustrating the extreme positions of adjustment of the co-operating sleeve.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary underside view of one end of the nozzle, k

Fig. v6 illustrates in front elevation, partially broken away, a modified brush member embodying my invention,

Fig. 7 isan underside view thereof,

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section,

Figs. 9 and 10 are transverse sections illustrating the extreme positions of adjustment of the co-operating sleeve, and

Fig. l1 is a fragmentary view showing a modified feature of the sleeve mounting to avoid minor losses of air currents.

Throughout the several figures of the drawings I have empleyed the same character of reference to indicate similar parts.

Brush attachments for suction cleaning are required for different operative conditions, and I have kprovided the instant 'improvement upon brushes adapted to typify Varying requirements. Thus, in Fig. 1 the suction cleaner a of portable type is provided with the usual forwardly positioned nozzle b, terminating in lip walls 3 forming a mouth. Front and rear brush members b', having bristle members or tufts 4 forming an offset extension for said lip walls and terminating in a face for contact with the surface to be cleaned, are semi-removably attached to the lip walls 3 by screws b. Other means are contemplated for attaching the brush. j

If desired, an adjusting screw c may be provided for the wheeled rear bracket c for of the nozzle mouth. Commonly the brush members are positioned so that they will llghtly engage the surface being cleaned at the front and rear of the adjustable elongated sleeve-member d, fitting slidably Within the Imouth of the nozzle b and retained by terwhich forms an extension for the lip walls 3 is to direct the total input of air substantially along the plane of engagement between the tips of the bristles and the surface or floor covering thatis being suction cleaned. With ordinary t.brush attachments of this character, there is considerable reduction in regulating the operative position and height l the amount of effective input .of air by reason of the leakage between the different bristle tufts well above the cleaned surface. `With my improved appliance, however, the leakage is nominal, hence the efiiciency of the-cleaning nozzle and brush is materially increased. One minor source of leakage in the slotted sleeve construction of Figs. 3 and 4f, present in the terminal slots d, may be obviated if the air'currents are impaired, by adopting the grooved terminal d4, shown partly broken away in Fig. l1, as a modification, for accommodating the supporting pins d.

In either case, the sliding sleeve is selfadjustable and' mounted for free movement with respect to the lip walls 3 to conform to the surface or floor fabric covering being cleaned, serving to direct the input of air currents along the plane of engagement by the brushes, and effecting something of a sealing relation with the pile of a rug or carpet for withdrawing the dirt therefrom in the well known manner. Moreover, the wear of the bristles is automatically compensated by the freely sliding sleeve member, so that the sleeve' and brush will operate over long periods at maximum eiciency.

Somewhat different conditions, however, must be met by brush attachments for a suction hose nozzle when used for cleaning fabric hangings, curtains, furniture coverings, and thelike. With these brush attachments it is desirable, as before, to provide an airdirective sleeve-member, but preferably said sleeve-member normally is positioned above the plane of engagement by the bristle tips. A brush device embodying my invention and adapted for the foregoing purposes is shown in Figs.,6 to 10.

The brush e is of slotted type and adapted to be disposed upon a hose-attachment nozzle of much smaller dimensions than the one With the sleeve f positioned as above de-` scribed, it will be found that the air currents are better directed for cleaning operations upon hangings landthe like, with a more dispersed iiow of the input of air around and between the active sections of the bristle tufts adjacent to their engagement with the fabric, which will be somewhat sucked into the flanged mouth of the sleeve and insure more eliicient cleaning thereof. The sleeve is self-accommodating, however, in order to :terasse j direct the air currents for most effective cleaning and with respect to variable cleaned surfaces or hangings, and there is not'the usual loss of input about the upper or attached sections of the bristle tufts.

`With this construction, however, the shorter sleeve is so positioned not only'to direct the air currents effectively with respect to the tips of the adjacent bristle tufts, but said sleeve will be automatically elevated, if necessary, to its maximum position of Fig. 10 while cleaning irregular surfaces and the like, in order to accommodate the nozzle thereto and prevent scratching or injuring such finished surfaces.

Ordinarily the rear adjustment shown in connection with the suction cleaner of Fig. l is not required, and may even be dispensed with unless the brushes are considerably worn. This is because of the bodily lifting `of the rug or floor covering by the air currents to meet the bristles of the front and rear brush members, as indicated in Fig. 11. The floor covering normally will be locally elevated by thel air currents sufficiently to actuate the sleeve upwardly and engage the brush members to effect a thorough cleaning action. Thus the lint, threads, hair and other foreign particles dislodged 'by the brushes, together with the adhering and embedded dirt, jointly detached or loosened by said brush members and the air currents, will be readily sucked into the mouth of the nozzle beneath the sliding sleeve.

Having now described and explainedthe operation of preferred types or embodiments of my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, the following:

1. In combination with'a vacuum cleaner nozzle terminating in lip walls forming a mouth, a brush'lfor said nozzle including bristle members forming an offset extension for a lip wall and terminating in a face for Contact with a surface to be cleaned, and

`means forming an extension for. said lip walls mounted for free movement with respect to said lip walls and brush for directi-ng air currents entering said mouth along a path adjacent said face.

2. In combination with a vacuumcleaner nozzle terminating in lip walls forming a mouth, a brush for said nozzle including bristle lmembers forming an offset extension for said lip walls and terminating in a face for contact with a surface to be cleaned and a sleeve member forming an extension lip walls slidably mounted for free movement with respect to said lip Walls and brush for directing air currents entering said mouth along a path adjacent said face.

3. In combination with a vacuum cleaner for said lip walls and terminating in a face for contact with a surface to be cleaned, and means forming an extension for said lip Walls mounted interiorly of said brush for free movement with respect to said lip Walls and brush for directing air currents entering said mouth along a path `adjacent said face.

In testimony whereof I do now ax my signature.

EUGENE F. MARTINET. 

